Karpeo · Business in Switzerland
What does an accountant do for a business in Switzerland?
An accountant turns invoices and financial transactions into information you can use. Their work supports annual accounts, compliance and an understanding of your business. Here is what they can handle, what depends on the engagement and which responsibilities remain with management.
By Sarah Prieur · Swiss certified public accountant
The accountant’s role at a glance
An accountant records, checks and organises business transactions. They prepare financial information for annual accounts, returns and management decisions. The scope depends on their role or the services you have agreed.
- Entering documents is only one part of the work.
- VAT, payroll, tax and management reporting should be expressly included in the engagement when required.
- An accountant, a Swiss certified public accountant and a statutory auditor perform distinct roles.
- Outsourcing the accounts does not remove management’s responsibilities.
What an accountant does during the year
The process starts with supporting documents: invoices, expense claims, bank statements and records of unusual transactions. Each movement needs to be understood and allocated correctly. The accountant asks for explanations when a document is missing or the nature of a transaction is unclear.
They reconcile bank balances with recorded transactions, review customer and supplier balances and identify duplicates. A business purchase, private expense, loan and capital contribution must be treated according to what they actually represent.
| Task | Useful result for the business owner |
|---|---|
| Recording invoices | Documented and classified revenue and expenses |
| Bank reconciliation | Unexplained differences, fees and unallocated movements identified |
| Receivables monitoring | Visibility over outstanding invoices and overdue payments |
| Document checks | A list of missing or incorrect records |
| Periodic accounts | An overview of profit and key account balances |
An unpaid invoice does not disappear simply because it is old. Its recoverability must be assessed and its valuation adjusted where necessary. Equally, an unidentified payment received should be investigated instead of automatically being recorded as additional sales. An organised process for tracking business expenses makes these checks easier.
Year-end closing: making the accounts reflect the financial year
At year-end, the accountant looks beyond cash movements. Their work can include accrued expenses, services not yet invoiced, prepaid costs, inventories, depreciation and valuation adjustments. They prepare the documents required for the company’s circumstances.
For a Swiss SA or Sàrl, annual financial statements generally include the balance sheet, income statement and notes to the accounts. A cash flow statement is not a general requirement for every small company. Additional requirements apply in particular to businesses legally required to undergo an ordinary audit, subject to the statutory rules and exemptions.
Management must provide information that invoices do not reveal: disputes, commitments, unsaleable inventory or significant events after the reporting date. Our Swiss year-end accounting guide explains the process.
VAT, tax and payroll: agree the scope explicitly
An accountant can prepare VAT returns, tax returns and payroll if those tasks fall within their engagement and expertise. Distinguish preparation, review, approval and payment: responsibility for one does not automatically include the others.
For VAT, the work includes classifying transactions and reconciling returns with the accounts. Treatment depends on the company’s VAT position, reporting method and the transactions involved. See our guide to Swiss VAT.
Payroll also depends on personnel information: starting and leaving dates, working percentages, absences and allowances. An accounting firm cannot infer an unreported change to an employment contract. Agree who supplies these details and when. Our overview of Swiss social security contributions explains another component of payroll.
Finally, an expense recorded in the accounts is not automatically deductible for tax. Its business justification and the applicable rules must be assessed. A professional should explain tax adjustments without promising a tax reduction regardless of the facts.
Accountant, certified public accountant, fiduciary firm and auditor
Accountant describes a function. Training and levels of responsibility vary. A specialist in finance and accounting with a Swiss Federal Diploma of Higher Education has specific professional training and may perform work well beyond data entry.
A Swiss certified public accountant holds an advanced federal qualification obtained through specialist training and examinations. Their work may cover accounting, auditing, analysis and advice. This does not mean that all financial analysis is reserved to that qualification or prohibited for another competent accountant.
A fiduciary firm, or fiduciaire, is the practice providing services. It may bring together several professional profiles and specialisms. Ask who will work on your file and who reviews significant matters. This is also a useful criterion when choosing an accounting firm in Switzerland.
The statutory auditor examines the accounts under a separate legal framework. Statutory audit services require the appropriate approval from the Federal Audit Oversight Authority, FAOA. A professional diploma alone does not replace that approval or the applicable independence requirements. Our guide to Swiss statutory auditors explains the role.
The accountant supports decisions; management remains responsible
Up-to-date accounts can explain falling margins, a customer paying late or increasing fixed costs. They can also support a budget, funding application or project review.
Ask concrete questions: why is profit rising while the bank balance falls? Which costs explain the variance from budget? Which customer invoices should be collected next? Our guide to business cash flow explains the difference between profit and available cash.
Management makes decisions, supplies information and approves matters within its responsibility. In an SA, the board retains its statutory duties, including oversight. Signing an accounting engagement does not transfer all those duties to the service provider.
How to work effectively with your accountant
Set a timetable for providing documents. Keep one list of missing items and agree how questions will be handled. Files scattered across different email accounts make checks more difficult.
Request reports proportionate to your activity. For a small service company, periodic results, receivables monitoring and an explanation of costs can be more useful than a lengthy report delivered once a year.
Software automates tasks, but exceptions still need review. A tool may read an invoice and suggest an account without knowing the commercial purpose of the purchase. Clarify responsibility for entry, review and approval, including where artificial intelligence is involved.
Karpeo discussed the changing relationship between digital tools and accounting advice during its appearance on Léman Bleu’s 3D ECO programme. The archive provides context for how the profession has evolved.
Frequently asked questions
Does a small Swiss business have to hire an accountant?
There is no general requirement to appoint an external accountant. The business must still meet its accounting and tax obligations. It can organise the work internally or outsource it according to its resources and skills.
Will an accountant pay my invoices?
Only if payment handling is included in the engagement and appropriate access is granted. Preparing a payment and approving it can be separate tasks. The engagement should specify permissions and controls.
Can an accountant guarantee that there will be no tax inspection?
No. Proper records help explain transactions and respond to questions, but they do not remove the authorities’ inspection powers or eliminate all risk of adjustments.
Can I continue issuing invoices myself?
Yes. You can invoice customers and send the information to your accountant. Agree the format, timing and correction process to avoid missing records or duplicates.
What is the difference between accounting and auditing?
Accounting produces and documents the accounts. An audit is a separate examination governed by the applicable audit requirements. Qualifications, licensing and independence must be considered separately.
Sources and verification
English edition checked on 10 October 2026. Main legal references: Code of Obligations, articles 957–961d on accounting and article 716a on the board’s duties.
About the author
Sarah Prieur
Sarah Prieur is a Swiss certified public accountant, a partner and head of operations at Karpeo. She supports businesses, self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs with accounting, tax and VAT matters. Before joining Karpeo, she spent eight years in financial audit at PwC Switzerland, progressing to manager.
Read more about Sarah Prieur →